“We will remember him as a unique person”: Arne Slot bids farewell to Diogo Jota

It is still hard to comprehend the scale of this tragedy.

Details: Amidst the farewells from club officials, players, and supporters, Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot also shared his emotions.

The Dutch manager delivered a heartfelt speech, filled with sincerity and deep sorrow over the loss:

"What can I say? What can anyone say at a time like this, when the shock and pain are so unbearable? I wish I had the words, but I know I don’t.

All I have are feelings, which I know are shared by so many people, about a person and a player we cherished deeply, and a family we care for so much.

My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are the thoughts of a father, a son, a brother, and an uncle, and they are with the family of Diogo and André Silva, who have suffered such an unimaginable loss." Slot said.

Arne also addressed the family of the deceased:

"My message to them is simple: you will never walk alone. The players, staff, and fans of Liverpool Football Club are all with you, and from what I have seen today, the same can be said for the wider football family.

This is not just a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the kindness of people, and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole."

The coach’s grief is truly heartbreaking — in his words, Jota was more than just a professional, a pleasure to work with, but also a person with a very kind heart:

"For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a beloved person to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a friend at work, and in all those roles he was truly special.

I could say a lot about what he brought to our team, but the truth is anyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, dedication, outstanding quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

There were also things not everyone saw. A man who never sought popularity, yet found it all the same. Not just a friend to a few, but a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good just by being around them. A man who cared deeply for his family."

At the end of his remarks, Slot said that Diogo’s memory would live on forever, recalling their last conversation and meeting before that fateful night:

"The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his upcoming wedding. In so many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it had to end like this.

When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I learned was the one our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him before, but I immediately understood that if Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, have such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have had something truly special.

The fact that we have lost those qualities under such dreadful circumstances is something we have yet to come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to come together and support each other. We owe it to Diogo, André Silva, their extended family, and ourselves.

My condolences go out to Diogo’s wife, Ruth, their three wonderful children, and to the parents of Diogo and André Silva.

When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, remember his goals, and sing his song. For now, we will remember him as a unique person and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.

His name is Diogo." Arne Slot concluded.

Read also: “This is the moment when I struggle.” Jürgen Klopp on the death of Diogo Jota